MANUREWA TOWN BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 194, 25 July 1916, Page 4

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD.

Ordinary Meeting. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Manurewa Town Board was held on Thursday last. Present: Messrs T. J. Corin (chairman), H. V. Burton, F. E. White, E. S. Pegler, C. Coxhead and 0. H. Lupton, together with the clerk, Mr A. G. Mabee.

THE PROPOSED BRIDGE. A plan of the propose 1 new road and oveihead bridge, between Russell road and the east side of the station, was forwarded by the Railway Department, together with a notification of the Chief Engineer's intention to recommend the Department to grant the half-chain strip of railway land on the east side of the station up to section 76 and alto one chain strip between section 76 and Station road, but it wa? stated that the Department would not make any contribution towards the cost of foiming and met illing the road or of building the propose! bridge or its approaches. Mr Pegler remarked that those interested in the erection of the bridge would still be dependent on Mr Thompson and the other landowners ol Station Estate for a halfchain road.

Mr Hungerford, a ratepayer who was present and was interested in the scheme, reported that to settle his mind in regard to the cost of a bridge be interviewed, Mr Mcintosh, the District Engineer, who informed him that a three spun bridge would cost £llsO and a two span £750, and suggested the erection of a 20 ft bridge in preference to a 15ft bridge. Mr Mcintosh had also suggested, he said, that written agreements should be obtained whereby the owners of sections 71 to 86, inclusive, would give and metal a half-chain road, and he further pointed out that the ratepayers interested would be responsible for forming the approaches. Mr Hungerford added that Mr Mcintosh fuither asked that he should be informed as to what contribution would be forthcoming from the ratepayers for the bridge. Mr White remarked that Mr Mcintosh had previously promised that the Department would bear the cost of the erection of the bridge conditionally on the ratepayers rinding the necessary roading and approaches. After estimating that a bridge as suggested would cost the ratepayers £SOOO, Mr White expressed the opinion that he could not possibly see how the ratepayers could find a share of the cost, but be suggested that the owners of Jellicoe Estate should be asked to contribute.

Mr Hungerford stated that he recognised that £SOOO was beyond the district's powers for expendihire on a bridge, but believed that the cost would not reach such a ligure. In the course of discussion a suggestion was made that a bridge might be erected at a smaller cost at a different site along the line, whero it would only span a single line of railway but members agreed that the idea was futile as the cost of the necessary roading would be move than of the bridge itself. Tho chairman was of the opinion that the Department should provide an entrance through the station yard. Mr Feglor : In other words those interested want to me the Department's yards instead of forming tho road. The chairman asked if tbo ratepayers were prepared to give the property as suggested and to metal it.

Mr Pegler : They will not even give the pioperty. The chairman failed to tee how the ratepayers could provide £SOOO for a bridge. Mr Hungerford favoured the simpler proposition (the bridge to cost £750) on the grounds that if it was eventually decided to have that bridge the Department would be moie likely to assist therewith. The chairman : If you go for the £750 bridge the roading will " kill " it.

Mr Lupton thought that until Mr Mcintosh's suggestion was carried out and the data asked for supplied, nothing could be done in the matter. He proceeded to propose that the matter be refened to Mr G. Smith and Mr Hungerford for consideration and to collect the necessary data. Mr White seconded and the motion was carried. THE RAILWAY WORKS.

The Railway Department wrote stating that altbough the proclamation taking land for railway purposes at Manurewa included in its scope a portion of Weymouth road, fronting Mr Wood's property, the only portion it was intended to take of that road was the one chain width where the new line of railway crossed the road. A plan would be prepared, showing the portion of road to be handed back. The letter also stated that the chief engineer was agreeable to the Board being granted permission to provide an overhead bridge and approaches at Weymouth road at some future date, the Board to defray the whole cost of same.

A proposal submitted by Mr Pegler that the Town Board should cooperate with the Road Board with a view of securing the old railway track for the purposes of a road was favourably considered by members but it was decided to defer taking action just at present. MISCELLANEOUS.

The chairman reported that the Papakura Valley Road Board had not held a meeting since the previous meeting of the Town Board, and consequently no progress had been made with the financial adjustment between the two Boards.

With a view of securing a truck load of scoria for repairing a bad portion of a footpath in Luptou's load, Mr Lupton offered to pay his rates in advance. The offer was accented and it was further resolved to increase the order to two trucks, so that the footpath leading from the Great South Road to the Public Hall could also be repaired. The clerk was deputed to arrange for necessary adjustments to the Valuation Roll.

Consideration of the suggested adoption of the Manukau County Council's by-laws to operate in the Town Board's district, subject to the Board pacing the Council 7-5 per eent of the fees collected, was deferred.

ROADING OONl'iriOXS. It was decided to enforce the illlowing roading conditions in the event of the Puriii Paik Estate Co. proceeding to carry out ttieir proposal to continue Hill road through the Putiri Park Estate, viz , the road to be 66ft overall, including two 12ft footpaths on eithor side, the road to be cut out six inches deep to a width of 18ft and 6 inch spawls placed therein, and to be covered with two and a-half inch metal and blinded with scoria dirt and rolled, all the footpaths to be formed and all culverts and fillings to be formed the width of the road. BASLEY'S ESTATE.

It was decibed to notify Mr Basley that the Board would allow him one month in which to linish the work on Claude and Arthur r >ads accord ing to his bond, so that they should be properly completed. DAYS OF MEETING.

As members considered that the business transacted at the meetings did not warrant the holding of fortnightly meetings it was agreed to hold future ordinary meetings monthly, viz, on the hist Th urs lay in each month after the next fortnightly meeting to be held on August 3rd.